Alumnus of the Year Award

Celebrating our alumni leaders

Lucy Garrett Beckham '70

Lucy Garrett Beckham came from a family of educators, so it is not entirely surprising that the math major has spent more than 33 years of her life as an educator. In 1998, she became the principal of Wando High School in Mount Pleasant,, S.C. In the following years, Lucy led the efforts to transform the school beginning with the physical space itself. Once this was accomplished, she assembled a leadership team and a faculty of gifted teachers. This step was followed by the creation of programs and activities that would serve to make students believe in their school and their personal educational development.

Her plan succeeded and in 2004, Wando High School moved to their new campus. Despite the massive structure and being the largest high school in South Carolina with over 3200 students and 300 staff, Lucy was determined the faculty and staff would reach each and every student. Her efforts paid off and Wando is now considered one of the highest performing high schools in the state and has won national acclaim, becoming a model for educational excellence.

Lucy Beckham has been recognized for her commitment to and vision for education. Over the years she has been named Teacher of the Year, State Administrator of the Year and most recently the 2010 National High School Principal of the Year. In December of 2009, Lucy was the commencement speaker for the College’s Graduate School and was awarded an honorary doctoral degree. Her example of raising the bar for what is possible in public education and setting high expectations for students and faculty has proven to be a winning formula.